Union involvement can play a role in state’s progress

Unions often get a bad name, and justifiably so. Think featherbedding, sweetened pension deals passed on to succeeding generations, not to mention workplace rules that bind an enterprise’s hands at a time when flexibility can be the difference between success and failure and oftentimes leading to much higher costs.

And yet, in one case at least, a union presence seems welcomed by industry. And that in an industry that is likely to play a large role in the coming years with the health of Rhode Island’s economy. The industry is construction.

With so many projects either just started or about to kick into gear – think South Street Landing and nearby Interstate 195 land projects, as well as the coming road infrastructure work that the state’s RhodeWorks program promises to bring to a crumbling bridge near you – construction companies are going to be looking for skilled labor in large quantities for years to come. And that is good news.

What is interesting is the perspective of a number of contractors contacted for this week’s cover story, who said that unions’ roles in large, complex projects are important to keeping them on schedule and on budget. One reason is certain kinds of projects incorporate union apprenticeship rules, something that makes sure that contractors are not left with a workforce that lacks the skills needed by the market.

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So as the state gets ready to get back to work, it’s important to realize that, as is the case with so many issues, the reality is far more complex than the first impression. •

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